GENIUS FORUMS

I challege you to an arguement of unlimited proportions.

Yes, I challege you to a written duel, you choice of weapons...

pick the topic...

It's hard to pick a topic given that we don't know what your views are on anything. Not much point if we pick something and find we agree the whole way.

Isn't that what this site is all about. Let's try it mate!

"I'm so lonely. I am mr. Lonely. I have nobody to call my own"

your turn...

Lonliness is merely the absence of having one's ego coddled.

a ) Square the circle for us. I think that technically, the Egyptians did that by erecting, building, the pyramid of Cheops.
However, that was one way of doing it, using a couple of Imhoteps and a few millions of tons of stone. Look, if you read up about the problem in maths text books, you might be able to make some progress with it.

b ) Try figuring out why the Egyptians built the pyramids, or first figure out HOW. Those bunnies had the technology to cut through diorite stone ( which is stronger than iron ). Alien technology, but keeps one busy thinking about it ( the cutting tools were never found ).

b ) ( this is my one ) In a perfectly rational universe, what would be the over-arching law? Would there be pain in a perfectly rational universe? Ponder it ( I think I know the answers to my own question, but I could be biased, or stoned, so bear with me here ).

c ) ( MENSA PUZZLE ) Sorry, this one is too difficult, you won't get it. No, really, I know you are smart, but come on. I won't even post it, but I want to.

d ) The capitalist system...Why do I hate it? Racism, imperialism...now we call it bad and evil...however...if you think about it rationally, in a world where we already compete for the best to survive and get the best, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH IT? What, so people say now we can compete FAIRLY? Fuck fairly. Oppression is oppression. Technically, since we still grab the best for ourselves...honestly...we are such hypocrites. Thus, is capitalism really right or wrong. Ponder.

e ) higher grade. re-write famous philosophical ideas in ways people can UNDERSTAND them today. Rosseau...for example...was blamed largely for the French butchery...I mean French Revolution...however...His ideas were read completely incorrectly. So I was reading my phil textbook, which actually managed to accuse him om advocating depotism...sweet Jesus...how dumb do you get...By proposing the general assembly...the man explicitly said, that you must vote for THE COMMON WILL. What does that mean? It means vote for what is best for everyone. What happened? The peasants got excited/greedy and voted for what's best for THEM. Now Rosseau is made to look like a monster in text books. Anyway, if you can spend your life undoing these evils in text books by mundane philosophers...I will respect you infinitely.

I have to go to school, so i'll answer later. Btw post (c) just for the hell of it...

a)Creating a square with the same area as a given circle. Seems easy at first thought, but like with many things in my life the more indepth I go, the more complicated everything gets.

I'll use a Genius Forum strategy:

Formula for the area of a circle; A=(pi)r^2

~Area equals pi (magnitue of 3.14...on-and-on) multipied by radius (half of a diameter) to the power of 2.

Formula for the area of a square; A=l*w

~Area equals length times width.

Stroke of Genius Takes Effect (I call it SGTE):

'A' Circle has a diametre of 2.26 cm, half of that is 1.13 cm. Following the formula we get 'roughly' a area of 4.0 cm^2.

2 times 2 is 4! A square with sides measuring 2 cm. Onece we proceed through the fromula we should get an area of 4 cm^2.
......................................................................................

Yes, I know the above is wrong...I forgot/or I wasn't paying attention in class when we were doing such work and I don't feel like learning it at this point...But if you care to share the answer please do so, thank-you.


b)diorite stone- never heard of it all I know is the information you have so graciously passed on; Egytians used it as the main material in building their pyramids and its stronger then iron. Alien technology? Why does that always come up to explain the unknown? Maybe they hide those tools so people would view them as gods, or maybe they used brute slave strenght, which may have taken millions of people and who know how long it took, probably a work in progress through throught centuaries.

Animals may have been used and special devices...After all they did have human brains.

b) Whats an over-arching law? In a rational universe? Define rational universe. Are we not living in one now? Of course there would be pain, life is all about balance...ain't it?

c) MENSA PUZZLE...figures. I like puzzles, give me a go at it.

d) I don't know much about Capitalism. From what I understand is its a 'dog eat dog' world and only the best survive and prosper, we are ruled by the best and greedy...Works for me. I don't know...If there's someone that shows potential, we should help them out. Who knows what the future holds. Are you implying that if they help the weaker one's they will get left behind; Just like in a race, would you take the time to help someone up? Depends on how you view life... Are you refering to yourself as the top of the higher archy
...In conclusion, If someone shows promise, they will be helped out...Take a look a prisons, Its a waste of money, we need harsher punishment. The death penalty should be legal...
"I ponder why I wonder"

e) I might as well delete whats written and go study...Thanks for the post. They really help -Food for thought...But I have limitations which I need to work on (That reference to food if fucked up lol)

peace...as much as can be gathered...

ME: A is a trick question. It can't be done.

Where you implying something HUNTEDvsINVIS?

a ) Katy is right. Sorry, I've been reading 1970 text books in the library again...Very confusing. I should stay away from maths, I have been called a genius and an idiot in maths class which means that, collectively, I am average. I only ever did prize questions for the chocolates involved. However, the pyramid of Cheops squared the circle with less than 0.1% inaccuracy. Other architectural feats are too numerous to mention, and gives me a headache to think about. Its 90 degree angles are so near perfection that few other monuments can rival it, even today. Most buildings have quite imperfect 90 angles, we just don't notice it.

b ) As you all might know, many people believe that survivors of Atlantis brought technology to build the pyramids. Personally, I go with the alien theory. The blocked passageways leading from the king and queen's chambers are such strange phenomenona that it gives me multiple headaches just thinking about it. The problem is also that often kings built over or adjusted buildings, making it very difficult for us to figure out who built the original platforms and how and why. It is sometimes believed that the Sphinx, which is much older than the pyramids ( Sphinx was around when there was still regular rain ) contains valuable architectural and cultural knowledge. However, Egyptian authorities and Dr. Hawass are too scared to break the damn thing open because of the tourism industry. I propose we blow it up on the last night of the soccer world cup in 2010 when everyone will be watching the soccer and no one will be guarding the pyramid. You in or out? Knowledge or ignorance? BTW many people also believe that some king re-built the head of the Sphinx, probably to look like his own head. Very strange. Very messed up. Also, the role that astronomy plays in all of this is too influential to mention, I might just vomit from happiness.

b ) In a perfectly rational universe, I think, the main law would be that no law will destroy or interfere with another law. Hence, the law "Pain is bad for people" will not have the contradictory law "People will have pain". In a perfectly rational universe also things won't happen for no reason, like, say a pair of scissors falls on the floor for no good reason. Of course the pair of scissors falls for the logical reason that energy is tranformed or released, however, to you who has to pick it up there was no rational reason you had to partake in this single small act. So my new law would be that "objects do not spontaneously move for no benefit or reason". You have to admit that though the universe in rational, to a large extent to our perceptions it is not rational, and that is the irrationality that I question here. ? ? In a rational universe people won't be born to die as infants, etc, because this is futile.

d ) capitalism...the more the owner of a company gets the higher the wages of the employees should be, and in this way the profits will spread more equally, cause less inequality, crime, etc, and we avoid seeing millions being heaped up in bank accounts of single characters. Problematically, the risks involved in starting up a company will cause owners to say that they are entitled to the profits because in a sense they "gambled" for them by investing money in it in the first place. Touchy subject. I am not sure how to go about solving this. More state intervention? Anyway, the employee gambled in a sense as well because he/she joined a company in the hope that it won't fail and leave them jobless.

BTW before I get hate mail or anything...I was just joking about blowing up the Sphinx...and my alien theories are not so far off...ever heard of the Annanuki? It is believed in ancient myths that they enslaved the humans to mine gold and other precious substances for themselves after attempts to mine gold from sea water were too strenuous and nonprofitable. Indeed, you can chemically manipulate salt water to get gold, however, the attempts were abandoned by most governments because you only get an extremely small quantity of gold in every few tons of sea water. Ciao.

And shame on you Ignorant Carl you never even replied or tried my questions out : )

Hunted,

I don't know much about Capitalism. From what I understand is its a 'dog eat dog' world and only the best survive and prosper, we are ruled by the best and greedy...Works for me. I don't know...If there's someone that shows potential, we should help them out. Who knows what the future holds.

I do know much about capitalism, and I've learned to play the game. Right now I have a project -- I am helping someone play the game to win, someone who most people I know would label a loser. I am excited about this.

HUNTEDvsINVIS wrote:b ) Try figuring out why the Egyptians built the pyramids, or first figure out HOW. Those bunnies had the technology to cut through diorite stone ( which is stronger than iron ). Alien technology, but keeps one busy thinking about it ( the cutting tools were never found ).

I'm not a mason, but surely cutting stone can't be all that mysterious.

And of course the real problem is that companies don't pay their employees based on what the company makes. Look at Wal Mart.

Sher - do tell?
I find it interesting, because I would think it rather anti-capitalist to help someone else succeed in capitalism. I've certainly never heard of any such thing happening before and seen the opposite all the time.

Katy,

I thought of a decent paying job this person can do, if I help them prepare for the test they need to pass. It may take a few weeks or months of studying and perfecting his skills, but it will be well worth it. After he gets this job, I can help him gradually move up the corporate ladder.

I find it interesting, because I would think it rather anti-capitalist to help someone else succeed in capitalism.

I don't think so. It's just the loving thing to do when you have a friend who has been less lucky than you. Seeing that person rise to levels they never imagined is payment enough.

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I am Ignorant Carl, lol

I don't think so. It's just the loving thing to do when you have a friend who has been less lucky than you. Seeing that person rise to levels they never imagined is payment enough.

Rise to levels of what? Checking account balance? Are you sure this person is interested in "rising" to these type of "levels they never imagined?" I personally can't think of a much bigger waste of time. Maybe this person wants to rise to levels of insight and understanding they never imagined, without caring much whether they have a penny or a fortune. How do you know this is not the case, and how do you know this person shares your value system in which "rising" and "higher levels" are synonymous with money and worldly achievement? In other words, how do you know you aren't just brainwashing and enslaving this person rather than "helping" them?

Just curious...

I don't think so. It's just the loving thing to do when you have a friend who has been less lucky than you.

How do you justify being so quick to judge what "lucky" really is, and why are you defining it solely in financial terms? I'd consider the Buddha or Chuang Tzu "luckier" than any of us, and neither of them had a pot to piss in. I'm sure they would be compassionately amused by your highly conventional ideas about "success" and the "less fortunate."

Hint: The "loving" thing to do is never, ever, ever, to impose our own value systems on others through physical, intellectual, or emotional force. And the latter two types of force are precisely those employed by people who take for granted the idea that one particular value system (usually the conventional worldly one) defines and encompasses the whole of "success." For example, it's the kind of force most of us unknowingly and voluntarily expose ourselves to by installing a brainwashing machine (TV set) in our homes, through which we are relentlessly indoctrinated with conventional values on a daily basis. How can you be sure you aren't inadvertently doing the same thing to your friend?

Nat,

A lot to answer to there. Can't really do it right now, but I'll come back another day and respond to all your questions. For now, I'll just remind you that in my country, people who don't work can starve.

Yes, that's a valid point. You guys should really do something about that.

Sher said:

I don't think so. It's just the loving thing to do when you have a friend who has been less lucky than you. Seeing that person rise to levels they never imagined is payment enough.

Nat said:

Rise to levels of what? Checking account balance? Are you sure this person is interested in "rising" to these type of "levels they never imagined?" I personally can't think of a much bigger waste of time. Maybe this person wants to rise to levels of insight and understanding they never imagined, without caring much whether they have a penny or a fortune. How do you know this is not the case, and how do you know this person shares your value system in which "rising" and "higher levels" are synonymous with money and worldly achievement? In other words, how do you know you aren't just brainwashing and enslaving this person rather than "helping" them?

Well, this person is at the very bottom of the food chain. I'm sure you know what I mean: in the capitalist economy (hereinafter referred to as "the system") we are like fish, and the little fish get eaten by the big fish. It is a system based on nature's evolution. Compassion is not part of it.

I don't like capitalism and its values any more than you do. But I have developed the serenity to accept it because I cannot change it (if I lost anyone here, google the Serenity Prayer). Moreover, the survivor in me has caused me to learn to beat the system*, by learning the rules well. That in spite of me being an idiot (I will grant you, it took me decades to completely figure it all out). You see, in this system, it is neither the intelligent, talented, hard working, nor even the most driven (although those things can sometimes help, I admit) that rise to the top. Those that figure out how the system works and play by its rules are the "fortunate" ones.

You have also found a way to beat the system*, but your way won't work in Panama.

* I should clarify that beating the system does not mean breaking the law.

Now, back to my friend. He has no job and no money, and he is getting devoured by the loan sharks. Yes, ironically there are many who live off of people like him. He doesn't have a place to stay. What are his options? His values do not allow him to steal, kill or join the narcotics mob.

So he basically needs a job. Now you will ask, why do I want him to climb the corp. ladder? Because having a minimum wage job in a developing country sucks. You have the worst of both worlds – you are enslaved to work, and you're not even close to making ends meet.

Low-paying jobs are not really easier than high-paying ones. My POV is that if you're going to bother to work at all, you might as well live comfortably. Otherwise, why bother?

Aside: My view is that there needs to be a balance between work and personal activities. (More work entails more money, but also less leisure time, so the solution is not to work more hours.) This balance is different for every person, but imo, few people find their optimum at either extreme.

Maybe this person wants to rise to levels of insight and understanding they never imagined, without caring much whether they have a penny or a fortune. How do you know this is not the case,

A person has to have their basic needs taken care of before they can pursue insight and understanding. This is Maslow 101. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_h ... y_of_needs

. . . and how do you know this person shares your value system in which "rising" and "higher levels" are synonymous with money and worldly achievement?

He's a lot like me in that he doesn't consider money and riches a goal in life, but only a necessity to survive. IOW, a tool.

Sher said:

I don't think so. It's just the loving thing to do when you have a friend who has been less lucky than you.

Nat said:

How do you justify being so quick to judge what "lucky" really is, and why are you defining it solely in financial terms?

Are you now spreading the idea that poverty is acceptable?

There are a lot of ways in which a person can be lucky. (I am unlucky in many ways, but I choose to never focus on those, as it would serve no useful purpose.) Being unemployed and without resources is not one of them.

And no, I never meant to imply that financial luck is the best of all. It could very well turn out to be the very worst of all. I would have never chosen it for myself. But it is the only one that I have ever tasted, and I have to work with what I've been given.

I'd consider the Buddha or Chuang Tzu "luckier" than any of us, and neither of them had a pot to piss in.

I agree that they were very lucky, but if they were starving, they were also suffering. Suffering is bad, mmkay?

I'm sure they would be compassionately amused by your highly conventional ideas about "success" and the "less fortunate."

I'm sure they would agree with me that a person without resources needs help.

Hint: The "loving" thing to do is never, ever, ever, to impose our own value systems on others through physical, intellectual, or emotional force. And the latter two types of force are precisely those employed by people who take for granted the idea that one particular value system (usually the conventional worldly one) defines and encompasses the whole of "success." For example, it's the kind of force most of us unknowingly and voluntarily expose ourselves to by installing a brainwashing machine (TV set) in our homes, through which we are relentlessly indoctrinated with conventional values on a daily basis. How can you be sure you aren't inadvertently doing the same thing to your friend?

My main "defense" is that I am not deluded by the system's values; I am very well aware of what is going on. Hence, I think that I will be able to communicate to my friend that these "values" only have one goal – survival. Actually, I don't call them values at all; I call them rules of the capitalist game. But your point is a good one, and has been accepted: I should be careful not to lead him down the conventional path.

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I personally can't think of a much bigger waste of time.

I have a lot of sympathy for this view. I, and most others in this world, cannot pursue self-actualization because we are so busy providing the basics for ourselves and our children. That is why I respect and admire the people I know who have chosen not to work so that they can pursue a noble goal, and can get away with it. You might remember that a year or two ago I defended someone who was being chided for this very life choice.

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I'm not promoting starvation or deprivation. I have never promoted these, and in fact (as you know) I support a worldwide guaranteed minimum income subsidized by the rich nations to ensure that they rarely happen.

However, I do believe that relative poverty (in the sense of having less than the average member of society) is acceptable. As long as one has basic necessities, one should be reasonably satisfied. It's understandable to want a few "extras" every now and then, but in a world where children are starving, we can't afford to indulge ourselves too lavishly. The resources consumed by "average" and wealthier Western citizens could be put to much better use in a sane economic order.

I believe that until everyone in the world has their basic necessities met, to be wealthy is to be immoral. I have little patience or use for those who "live well" in material terms while half the world lives in conditions of extreme deprivation. Live well spiritually instead. Anyone doing so has no use for much more money than they need to get by. Their conscience bothers them too much.

However, I do believe that relative poverty (in the sense of having less than the average member of society) is acceptable. As long as one has basic necessities, one should be reasonably satisfied.

I completely agree with this. The poverty that I am against is real poverty, as in, not having a decent (one where you can hide even when the weather is bad) shelter, power, water, food and clothing. I don't think that we need to have the latest cell phone model and a brand new SUV. But people think they can't live without these things because of the power of marketing. And I am not talking about rich people.

I wonder if people in Cuba are as obsessed with material things as people are in capitalist countries.

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Hard to tell, because the Cubans we tend to encounter here in the US are the materialistic ones who have left Cuba looking for greater economic opportunity. If any committed socialists are happy to remain in Cuba, we don't hear from them. We only hear from the dissatisfied ones.

I once had a cyber friend writing to me directly from Cuba, a medical doctor. There were a lot of things that he didn't like about the system, such as the lack of freedom of speech, but he seemed to be complaining more about Fidel's regime than about communism itself.

I thought it was pretty rotten that he had to study so many years through such a difficult school curriculum, only to be paid a ridiculously low salary (as most doctors are in Cuba). He is being used, and that sucks.